Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 186 | Wednesday, November 27, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

RODERICK LO WINS DCHS 73 GOLF TOURNAMENT

Serving a seamless society

SPORTS P11

SUBSTANDARD VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

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Property owners warned on the proliferation of substandard construction materials

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ecent earthquakes and disasters have served as eye openers for property owners in Davao City to be more watchful against substandard products particularly when buying construction materials.

City Planning and Development Of�ice (CPDO) head Ivan Chin Cortez told Edge Davao that the issue on the proliferation of substandard materials in the city poses a big problem and that it will require an interagency monitoring as this will compromise the safety and strength of the building.

“It is a common practice that if you go to a hardware store they will always ask you if its standards

or substandard. That is the lookout of the property owners because it’s gonna be an investment that will be put to waste once it crumbles down to the ground,” Cortez said.

Cortez reiterated it is the lookout of the property owners to ensure that the materials used for the construction of the building are really according to the standards as speci�ied in the plan.

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Children watch as the Christmas tree with LED video mapping of NCCC-Victoria Plaza illuminates the area along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City on Monday night. Lean Daval Jr

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte joins other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in as they pose for a family photo prior to the start of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center on Tuesday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Telcos called out for poor service

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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elecom companies were called out for poor internet services in Davao City.

Councilor Jessica Bonguyan nudged telecom companies for what she calls as “unjust and unfair internet services”, this after she received various complaints from clients and customers of poor internet connection despite religiously paying their internet bills.

“That there is indeed unfair and unjust services to customers who are paying up to date their billing obligations for the internet services,” Bonguyan said in her privilege speech in yesterday’s session of the City Council.

Bonguyan brought this

concern before the City Council as chairperson on the Committee on Information Technology, she moved to conduct a committee hearing and invited all the internet and landline providers to be clari�ied on the matter.

In a joint committee hearing conducted last September 25, 2019, Bonguyan cited Alan Abrina, a representative from Philippine Long Distance and Telephone (PLDT), who explained that one of the contributing factors of the problem is the ongoing project of the Department of Public Works and

Highways (DPWH) and the Davao City Water District (DCWD) wherein some of their cables were cut during the construction.

Another factor is that some of their cables were stolen.

Bonguyan also said Abrina reiterated the need to upgrade the units of their subscribers to address the problem of poor internet services.

The PLDT representative added that to compute payment adjustments and rebates the probIem must �irst be reported indicating therein the date of the complaint in the system.

In addition, the complaint of the customer must be validated by taking into consideration the cause of trouble. PLDT will deter-

mine who is responsible for the poor internet connection. If it is PLDT’s responsibility, the complaint is taken into account even if it is beyond 24 hours.

Payment adjustment is computed by dividing its monthly payment and numbers of days. However, if is solely attributable to the customer, there shall be no rebates.

Likewise, a representative from Globe Telecom informed the body that they are mindful and aware on complaints on the internet services. She added that they immediately report these concerns to their technical division for action.

A representative from SKY manifested that subscribers should immedi-

ment of Interior and Local Government which aim to address the access, utilization, coverage and equity issues in the provision of basic health care services for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples to achieve better health outcomes.

The City of Mati, led

by Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat, engaged the Halad Mission Group Foundation assisted by the City Health Of�ice in holding a minor surgical, dental, eye screening, maternal and child nutrition outreach for indigenous people at Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) barangays namely

Lanca, Luban and Cabuaya.

The mission aims to offer free minor surgical and dental procedures to the indigenous people of the GIDA barangays.

Other activities done were the prenatal checkup with free laboratory tests prioritizing high risk and teen age pregnancies; evaluation and treatment of malnourished children and cataract screening of senior citizens for eventual navigation to service provider with no out of pocket expenditures from the patients, thereby achieving �inancial risk protection for them.

The Halad Mission Group Foundation, repre-

sented by its president , Dr. Rolley Rey P. Lobo, initiated the holding of the surgical outreach through engagements with the City Health Of�ice , several stakeholders and cooperating agencies from the government.

Master listing of prospective clients was managed by the GIDA barangays health teams, weeks before the outreach proper.

Priority population based health services and programs such as High risk and teen age pregnancy tracking, management of severe acute malnutrition, national immunization program, and cataract screening were also integrated as

ately report their concerns directly to the company in order to resolve the issue instead of posting their complaints in social media, since prior to the installation of the units, subscribers were briefed to immediately report on their hotline number, for any internet connection problem.

Bonguyan also raised the concern on “lock in period” wherein customers cannot cut off their subscription though they are not enjoying the services for a period of time for the reason that they will be liable of Breach of Contract.

“The telephone companies are so rush on accepting new subscription but so slow in responding with the complaints,” Bonguyan

said.

Bonguyan reminded the telephone companies to be responsible in answering the problem on internet connection on the ground that subscribers are religiously paying their obligations hence they deserved to be served.

She stressed that if she will receive the same complaints and still were not addressed, she will raise the concern again in the City Council.

She also recommends that the said service providers will submit progress report, which is a list of complaining clients/ subscribers with corresponding actions taken by their of�ice inclusive only on the month of September and onwards.

Mati CHO conducts medical mission in IP communities Piñol calls for complementation

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he City Health Of�ice has conducted medical mission in lumad communities in the barangays of Lanca, Luban, and Cabuaya in the City of Mati over the weekend.

The medical mission is in partnership with the Southern Philippines Medical Center, Department of Health, Social Concerns Foundation and Halad Mission Group Foundation.

Mati City Health Of�icer Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr. said the activity is in compliance to the Joint Memorandum Circular 201865 of the Department of Health, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Depart-

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among BIMP-EAGA countries

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he head of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has asked members of Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) to complement instead of competing with each other.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol made the call during the BIMP-EAGA Senior Of�icers and Ministers Meeting in Kuching, Malaysia on Sunday, where he urged the regional bloc to cooperate --especially the issues on the prices of palm oil products.

In his Facebook post

on Monday, Piñol said the regional bloc should work based on “complementation and not on competition” to face the strong lobby waged by other vegetable-oil producing countries.

“This lobby, especially in Europe, has resulted in the very low palm oil prices, which also adversely affected the coconut industry,” he pointed out.

Piñol said that during the meeting, he proposed the creation of the BIMP-EAGA Palm Oil Council to represent the interests of all palm oil

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

British gov't thanks PH military for rescue of two UK nationals

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he United Kingdom on Monday extended its gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the successful rescue of two British nationals, Wilma and Alan Hyrons, who were abducted in Sulu last October 4.

"I am very grateful for their tremendous efforts.

We are in particular grateful to their Armed Forces for their courage throughout a dif�icult operation which resulted in Alan and Wilma’s release," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

Raab said the UK has worked closely with the Philippine government on the couple’s case over the last two months.

"I am pleased to con�irm that both Alan and Wilma Hyrons are safe and

well, and being looked after by the Philippine authorities," he said.

The UK's Foreign Of�ice of�icials have been in close contact with Alan and Wilma’s family throughout the case, who requested for privacy following their release.

Th Hyrons were rescued on the morning of November 25 after the AFP carried out a military operation on the island of Sulu.

The couple was abducted on October 4 by six gunmen from the family-owned resort in Barangay Alindahaw, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur. The couple's rescue came after a series of clashes since Friday that constricted the movement of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

(PNA)

Alert up as BIFF intensifies attack vs military, civilians

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ilitary authorities in Maguindanao and neighboring provinces have been placed on alert status since Sunday after the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) intensi�ied its attacks against government forces and civilians.

Aside from setting off a motorbike rigged with improvised bombs, the BIFF attacked government forces in the so-called “SPMS box” in the province’s second district.

The SPMS box is a military term for Maguindanao’s four adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi), Mamasapano, and Salibo where the outlawed BIFF mainly operates.

Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) and head of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), has placed all units under

his command on alert status to thwart any further attempt at disrupting the prevailing peace and order condition of the province.

On Sunday evening, BIFF attacked the military detachments of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao, and the detachment of the 38th Infantry Battalion (38IB) in remote Barangay Kalanganan 1, Cotabato City.

“Some 40-mm rounds of ri�le grenades were �ired toward the Meta detachment at 7 p.m.,” Carreon said. About two hours later, another band of BIFF �ired ri�le grenades toward the Kalanganan detachment of the 38IB. No casualties were reported on government troops from both attacks.

Carreon lauded the soldiers for their presence of mind and for not indiscriminately �iring at differ-

ALERT, P9

54 MILLION ENTITLEMENT. DOLE XI Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante turned over a Certificate of Entitlement worth 54 Million Pesos to DavSur Governor Douglas Cagas for intervention to the earthquake victims in the province. The turnover was witnessed by Senator

Bong Go, Paul V. Cruz, DOLE XI TSSD OIC-Chief, DOLE DSFO Chief Reynaldo Dennis V. Badilles, Senior Labor and Employment Officer Leo Ariel A. Pepino, DavSur Provincial PESO Manager Rolly Impas and some personnel from DOLE Davao del Sur and the provincial capitol.

DOLE 11 pours P54M to victims of quakes in Davao Sur towns

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total of 8,586 pro�iled displaced workers hit by the earthquakes in October this year became bene�iciaries of Emergency Employment Program (EEP) also known as TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11.

The bene�iciaries, all in Davao del Sur, are coming from Hagonoy (300 workers), Kiblawan (150), Malalag (150), Bansalan (400), Matanao (300), Sta.

Cruz (350), Padada (100), Cor Jesu College (25), SPAMAST (25), Magsaysay (5,706), Digos (300), Malls (780).

“Marami po kaming

trabahante nang malls na nawalan nang trabaho dahil sa closure po. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa DOLE na meron palang programa na emergency employment para po pansamantalang magkapera kami,” said Ricky, a displaced mall employee.

Engr. Reynaldo Dennis V. Badilles, Chief of DOLE Davao del Sur Field Of�ice, said that the work identi�ied for the project includes building or repairing houses, clean-up drive and road maintenance.

The turnover of the P54 million Certi�icate of En-

Solidarity, mutual aid hallmark of PH-SoKor ties, says President

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A child receives an anti-polio oral vaccine as part of the second round of Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio at a health center in Bankerohan, Davao City on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr

titlement was done at the Davao del Sur Provincial Capitol in Brgy. Matti, Digos City on November 22, 2019 coinciding the ground visit of Senator Bong Go to the province. Turning over the certi�icate to Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas was DOLE XI Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante witnessed by DOLE XI TSSD Chief Paul V. Cruz, DOLE DSFO Chief Engr. Reynaldo Dennis V. Badilles, DOLE DSFO Senior LEO Leo Ariel A. Pepino and DOLE DSFO Staff. (By Eduardo P. Monreal, LCO-Designate, TSSD, DOLE RO XI)

resident Rodrigo R. Duterte lauded the bond between the people of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) that has never been strong in no other time of both countries’ shared history.

“Solidarity and mutual aid have been the hallmark of our ties since 1950. It touches us that this remains so,” Duterte said during the bilateral meeting with ROK President Moon Jae-in at the Westin Chosun Busan Hotel on Monday.

Duterte did not miss the opportunity to thank the South Korean government for its USD100,000 donation for the victims of a series of earthquakes that rocked Mindanao in October.

The past seven years, he said, have witnessed the rising level of both countries’ interaction with cooperation encompassing various spheres --- from trade, investment,

and of�icial development assistance (ODA) to infrastructure development, defense, science, technology, and agriculture.

“Our economies took diverging paths and fortunes. The Republic of Korea rose to become one of Asia’s economic and technological powerhouses. Ours faltered, but with perseverance, the Philippines has since recovered and is now [a] well-performing, emerging economy,” he said.

He added that in 2018, ROK was Philippines’ fourth-largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to over 13 billion dollars, and was a valued source of foreign direct investments, ranking 13th in the same year.

“The Philippines and the Republic of Korea share a unique af�inity.

We became blood brothers in the 1950s on the altar of freedom. In 1980, the world watched as we

SOLIDARITY, P9

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

Assertive industrial sector in PH pushed

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Banana processing plant workers wash newly harvested bananas with water containing aluminum sulfate to remove latex and dust. Banana growers and exporters are calling on both the Philippine and South

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big number of Malaysian investors are looking at Mindanao as area to grow their businesses by partnering with local companies.

Abu Bakar Yusof, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. (Matrade) senior director, said on Wednesday after the two-day trade mission in Davao City the 33 Malaysian companies that joined the event conducted 16 engagements with local counterparts for possible partnership.

“It is very clear that Davao (city) now is also promoting a lot of (in-

vestment) sectors; these sectors are also relevant to Malaysian companies who are here,“ said Yusof as he said he was impressed by the presentations, including the one by the Davao City Investment Promotion Center.

It is important for the Malaysian companies, he said, to “understand” the local economy and the investment landscape and the sectors that are being

Korean and governments to immediately resolve stalemate on the proposed reduction of tariff rates on banana shipments. Lean Daval Jr

promoted “so that they can explore (the areas) to collaborate with the local governments, with the local business community.”

“We want our Malaysian investors to do things (the) right (way),” he said.

He pointed out that Mindanao, in general, and the city is particular, are among the areas that Malaysian investors are looking to expand their footprints.

The Matrade-organized forum attracted 33 Malaysian companies and about 100 local �irms, some of them from areas outside of Mindanao.

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Senate to push for regulation, taxing of e-cigarettes, vapes

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enators decided Monday to regulate and tax vaping products and e-cigarettes amid the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to ban vaping in public, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

The decision was reached after an all-senators’ caucus as requested

by Senator Pia Cayetano, ways and means committee chairperson.

Zubiri said they are looking at approving the bill on second and third and �inal reading on December 4.

The President earlier certi�ied the bill as urgent.

Senate Bill No. 1074, which seeks to increase excise taxes on alcohol

and e-cigarettes, including heated tobacco products (HTPs) and vapes, is currently in the period of interpellations.

The ways and means committee proposed the following excise tax rates for the following types of alcohol products: Distilled spirits: an ad valorem tax of 20% and a speci�ic tax of P90 per proof liter on Year 1, to be increased by P10 every year until Year 4, and by 10% every year thereafter.

Fermented liquor and alcopops: a speci�ic tax rate of P45 per liter on Year 1, to be increased by P10 every year until Year 4, and by 10% every year thereafter.

For wine products: a

speci�ic tax of P600 per liter for sparkling wines and P43 per liter for still and carbonated wines, to be increased by 10% every year thereafter It also proposed to tax e-cigarettes, HTPs, and vape products the same rate as conventional tobacco products.

Heated tobacco products will be taxed P45 per pack of 20 in 2020, increasing such rate to P5 per pack per year like regular cigarettes. For vape products, the committee recommendation is to tax those containing freebase nicotine at P45 per 10 ml or a fraction thereof; and those containing nicotine salts at P45 per 1 ml or a fraction thereof.

he �irst Philippine Industrial Summit in Mindanao was formally opened on Monday making louder call for stakeholders to build an "assertive" industrial sector in the country.

The four-day summit, which will run until November 28, seeks to stir discussions on ways to push the full industrialization beginning in the region.

Franklin Quijano, president of the government-owned and controlled PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (Phividec), said it is high time the Philippines stop relying solely on the traditional goods it receives abroad via trade.

"We want to raise consciousness. The Filipinos are aware that they can do more," he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Philippine Industrial Summit in Mindanao exhibit at the Limketkai Center here.

"Number one, we have to put our acts together.

Instead of complaining, for instance, about the price of copra, can't we be innovative and produce more products from coconut rather than just relying on coconut oil?" he asked.

For Filipinos, innovation could generate more value in a product such as the coconut.

"We have our captive minds and we're complaining that copra price is only PHP14 therefore the government must do something but then again this is not just an issue of the copra farmer, this is an issue for our country to think. If our universities, our captains of industries work together, we could produce more value to coconut," he said.

The country could also put a value on its human capital who often opt to work in foreign countries.

ASSERTIVE, P9

VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

EDITORIAL ‘Sana oil’ There seems to be no end in sight for witch hunters feasting on every miscues by organizers in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Worse, the negatrons are from the homefront, not from the visiting side.

It’s that classic Filipino crab mentality combined with media sensationalism. And in this age of digital media platform where news are spread in milliseconds, they just keep coming--most of which have either been addressed, explained and attended to.

Organizing an event of the SEA Games magnitude is not easy. If simple birthday parties can go haywire given the unpredictability of things, how much more an international event with at least 10,000 visitors, over 50 disciplines in over 20 venues?

A miscue here and there, therefore, is expected. Even visitors give allowance for some hitches by hosts. It’s a shared feeling when one acts as hosts or as guests in an event that goes on a cycle.

In the SEA Games that will of�icially open in a few days, the

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Philippines as host will do just about everything it has to make visitors stay in the country pleasant and their participation worthwhile. What is at stake here is the reputation of the entire country and as the theme of the Games suggest, we “win as one.”

However, winning as one also has its antithesis in losing as one.

This is something critics do not realize. The eventual loser, if the country fails miserably in mounting this event, are the Filipino people. It’s going to be a national disaster, a national embarassment if the country falls short. It won’t just be the organizers, the PHISGOC, PSC or the government, who will be put to shame. It’s going to be every single Filipino.

In order to succeed and avoid embarassment, the negatrons are better off chipping in their share to get things better. Everyone’s effort is needed and valuable in this undertaking. We need to win as one, or go down as one.

As they say in streetspeak, “sana oil (hopefully, all of us).”

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

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MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. ADAM B. MORRELL DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL CHA MONFORTE Cartoonist Layout/Cartoons Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

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DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

PROTECTION OF SEAFARERS’ RIGHTS AND AMBULANCE CHASING The dwindling numbers of deployed seafarers are usually misleadingly blamed by employers and manning agencies on the increasing number of litigated cases.

They have deliberately and sweepingly depicted seafarers’ lawyers as “unscrupulous” in an attempt to de�lect the real issues why cases are being �iled.

They criticized the lawyers , most of them they described as “ambulance chasers” , who go to lengths to push seafarers to �ile labor cases against their foreign employers.

In essence, they utilize the phrase that seafarers seek “bene�its even beyond the claims they are actually entitled” to sanitize the problematic legal battle for seafarer’s compensation.

Valid claims, employers argue, necessarily must follow what the POEA contract dictates: a contract that contains terms and conditions formulated more favorable to his employer and is littered with ambiguous provisions, generalizations, technicalities that he does not understand.

The seafarer’s risks of injury, illness or death are high since he is constantly exposed to dangerous working environment as the ships cross ocean boundaries.

Under the 1996 POEA

Standard Employment Contract (SEC), for disability or death to be compensable, it was suf�icient that the seafarer suffered injury or illness during the term of his employment. The cause of illness or death is immaterial.

However, through the lobbying of the principals and their manning agencies, the restrictive clause “work-related” was added under Section 20 (B) of the 2000 POEA SEC to limit their liabilities.

The 2000 POEA SEC de�ined “work-related injury” as “injury resulting in disability or death arising out of and in the course of employment” and “work-related illness” as “any sickness resulting to disability or death as a result of an occupational disease listed under Section 32-A of the contract”.

Two elements must concur for compensability . First, that the injury or illness must be work-related; and second, it must have existed during the term of the seafarer’s employment contract.

The �irst requirement appeared in the 2000 and 2010 POEA contract but is absent in the 1996 version.

Through such restrictive provisions of the POEA contract, claims for disability and death compensation became a legal battleground which is partly at-

tributable to the fact that employers do not hesitate to harness their immense resources to limit their liability.

In denying, if not limiting, the seafarer’s claims, the employer usually raise the misleading argument that the POEA mandated that disability can only be assessed by the company-designated physician based on the disability grading system.

However, their medical assessment “is not the alpha and the omega” (Elburg Shipmgt Phils. vs. Quiogue, Jr, 764 SCRA 431) as the POEA contract does not preclude the seafarer from getting a second opinion as to his condition.

In reality, the grading system assessment under the POEA contract is not re�lective of the bene�its that should be given to the seafarer. There are medical conditions that are classi�ied as partial disability (between Grade 2 to 14) but in essence should have been considered as total permanent (Grade 1). Employers will never hire a seafarer who suffered complete loss of the sense of hearing on both ears (Grade 3), loss of speech due to injury to the vocal cord (Grade 9), total loss of a leg or amputation at or above the knee (Grade 3), paralysis of one upper extremity (Grade3) ,

or loss of one foot at ankle joint or above (Grade 6), loss of ten �ingers of both hands (Grade 3) or amputation between wrist and elbow joint (Grade 5), or total blindness of one eye and 50% loss of vision of the other eye (Grade 5) will never be employed due to physical impairments.

Fit-To Work certi�ications are given even to seafarers who are still not cured or in essence can no longer be employed such as those who suffered from heart attacks, aneurism or stroke.

From the business point of view, it will be risky for the employers to let the seafarer be re-employed since the harsh working environment might only aggravate his fragile condition and in the end expose the company to more serious insurance liabilities.

Thus, Supreme Court’s consistently ruled that “disability need not render the seafarer absolutely helpless or feeble to be compensable; it means disablement of an employee to earn wages in the same kind of work, or work of similar nature that he was trained for or accustomed to perform”. (Valenzona vs. Fair Shipping Corp, 659 SCRA 642) The word “unscrupulous” should likewise be applied to the employers who harness their

immense resources to limit their liability.

In many instances, the seafarer signs quitclaim documents thereby releasing his employers from all claims, demands and causes of action without even understanding their contents.

Oftentimes, he is misled into accepting an ex-gratia, miniscule amount, in the guise that his condition is either not work-connected, or for any other reason for which he does not comprehend.

Unless their de�inition of “valid claims” is changed, through the deletion of the “work-related” clause, and through the reversion to the old 1996 POEA Contract , the denials of seafarers’ claims will continue. The compensation scheme should be less restrictive and more realistic.

Otherwise, their only recourse is to seek legal assistance from lawyers of their own choosing.

Conversely speaking, give the seafarers what they should receive, and employers will not be hounded by legal cases.

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law of�ices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786).

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

MORNING PERK-UPPER “The smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the world’s greatest inventions.” – Hugh Jackman *** WHAT is one of the world’s most popular drinks? Coffee, that’s what.

The popular drink comes from an evergreen tree, which was �irst discovered in Ethiopia, where its red, cherry-like berries (generally containing 2 seeds per berry) was used for wine and food before A.D. 1000. Its beans are �irst grounded and roasted and made into a drink during the 15th century in the Arabian Peninsula. Coffee later spread throughout Europe since the 17th century.

Coffee comes from an evergreen tree, which was �irst discovered in Ethiopia, where its red, cherry-like berries (generally containing 2 seeds per berry) was used for wine and food before A.D. 1000. Its beans are �irst grounded and roasted and made into a drink during the 15th century in the Arabian Peninsula.

Coffee later spread throughout Europe since the 17th century.

Today, eight out 10 adults in the Philippines drink an average of 2.5 cups of coffee every day.

However, the country comes second only to Japan in the amount of coffee consumed in Asia.

“In the Philippines, coffee

has a history as rich as its �lavor,” notes the National Coffee Development Board (NCDB). The �irst coffee tree was introduced in Lipa, Batangas in 1740 by a Spanish Franciscan monk. From there, coffee growing spread to other parts of Batangas like Ibaan, Lemery, San Jose, Taal, and Tanauan. Batangas owed much of its wealth to the coffee plantations in these areas and Lipa eventually became the coffee capital of the Philippines.

“By the 1860s, Batangas was exporting coffee to America through San Francisco,” the NCDB records. “When the Suez Canal was opened, a new market started in Europe as well. Seeing the success of the Batangeños, Cavite followed suit by growing the �irst coffee seedlings in 1876 in Amadeo. In spite of this, Lipa still reigned as the center for coffee production in the Philippines and Batangas barako was commanding �ive times the price of other Asian coffee beans.”

In 1880, the Philippines was the fourth largest exporter of coffee beans, and when the coffee rust hit Brazil, Africa, and Java (Indonesia), it became the only source of coffee beans around the world.

Today, however, the Philippines produces only .012% of the world’s coffee supply. The ma-

jority of coffee produced in the country comes from the mountain areas of Batangas, Bukidnon, Benguet, Cavite, Kalinga Apayao, Davao and Claveria.

However, the recent worldwide popularity of special brews and exotic blends of coffee gives a sliver of hope to the Philippine coffee industry. This new trend might be the breath of life that the Philippine coffee industry needs to savor once again the taste of its coffee’s golden years.

More and more people are drinking coffee these days than drinking milk, chocolates, and soft drinks. In One Step Behind, author Mankell discussed the importance of coffee in a conversation between policemen. “Police work wouldn’t be possible without coffee,” said one. The other replied, “No work would be possible without coffee.”

That may be too excess.

But then Chris Kyle has written something more than just that in his American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.

He wrote: “The joke was that President (George) Bush only declared war when Starbucks was hit. You can mess with the United Nations all you want, but when you start interfering with the right to get caffeinated, someone has to pay.”

In Selected Writings, Gertrude Stein has also written something about coffee. “Coffee is a lot more than just a drink; it’s something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but like somewhere within yourself.

It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup.”

Here are more coffee a�icionados. “A morning coffee is my favorite way of starting the day, settling the nerves so that they don’t later fray,” admitted Marcia Carrington. “The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks,” Sir James Mackintosh believed.

Oliver Wendell Holmes. Sr. stated, “The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering in�luence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.”

The popularity of coffee around the world is due to the health bene�its it offers. Aside from the energy-boosting caffeine in coffee, people who drink it might also be reaping its cancer-preventing and depression-lowering effects.

“There is certainly much more good news than bad news,

in terms of coffee and health,” says Dr. Frank Hu, nutrition and epidemiology professor at the Harvard School of Public Health.

A growing body of research shows that coffee drinkers, compared to nondrinkers, are less likely to have type 2 diabetes.

Although those with this most common form of the debilitating disease don’t need insulin injections, about 25 percent of them take drugs to improve sugar metabolism.

Can coffee help people who are depressed? Studies have shown that women who drink four cups of coffee per day are 20 percent less likely to be clinically depressed than women who drink only one cup of coffee per week.

Regular coffee drinkers who skip their daily coffee �ix may experience temporary “caffeine withdrawal” (usually in the form of a headache or drowsiness), but these symptoms will go away within 24-48 hours or after getting a new dose of caffeine.

In My Sister’s Keeper, author Judi Picoult wrote: “I don’t know.

I don’t care. All I know is when you pay for something that’s supposed to give you a cup of coffee, you deserve to get your fucking cup of coffee.”

Want to have another cup of coffee?

8 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 186 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019

JMC debaters are RP champs; ready for more int’l debates T he debating team of the Jose Maria College law school was declared overall champion in the 2019 5th Justitia Moot Court competition Teehankee Cup held at the Claudio Teehankee Center for Rule of Law, Ateneo Professional School at Rockwell, Makati City.

Atty. Israelito “Bobit” Torreon, JMC law school dean, said the team got the “Best Overall Memorial” and “Best Applicant Memorial” plums, while debater Lovella Fe Tacder chosen “Best Oralist for Preliminary Rounds,” and “Best Oralist for Final Rounds” with Grethcne B.

Canedo.

Dean Torreon said the lead researchers are Jeremiah Caballero, Al Ammen Silo, Eunice L. Ambrosio, Dave Abby Alano, Prince Loyd Depalubos, Rizz Monique Macato, Bai Hasnairah Guinzon and Nicole Leyba.

The team’s coach is

Allianz, LT Group launch project to plant 12 million trees in PHL

L

ucio Tan III made clear his �irst order of business -- a massive environmental sustainability project that aims to plant 12 million trees -together with the support of leading global insurer Allianz.

Tan launched the Green Canopy Project, which is a reforestation project created by the late Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. under Two Degrees, Inc., during a ceremonial tree planting activity facilitated by Allianz at the LT Group's Absolut Distillers property in Lian, Batangas. The younger Tan replaced his father as president of Two Degrees, Inc. He shared that the project will tackle reforestation of the Sierra Madre Mountains in the Cagayan Region.

“As of today, 500,000 trees have been planted in the area, which covers part of a total of 24,000 hectares of land. Aside from reforestation, my

father had also hoped to provide employment to local communities.

Rest assured, I intend to continue my father’s green advocacy and other efforts that promote sustainability. I believe in impact investing. I believe that environmental consciousness should be adopted in every level of business in order to secure future stability.

It’s the only way to go if we want a future for this planet,” Tan said.

Allianz PNB Life president and chief executive of�icer Alexander Grenz, for his part said, "Allianz has taken sustainability very seriously for many years now, even before it became the 'buzzword' that it has become today.

In fact it is part of our DNA to protect natural resources, to contribute to a low-carbon economy, and to involve ourselves in projects of environment, social inclusion, and prop-

ALLIANZ, P9

Atty. Resci Angelli Rizada, a former Mutya ng Dabaw winner.

Some of the teams defeated were St. Louis University Baguio, University of Batangas, Lyceum of the Philippines-Cavite, University of the Cordilleras, Cagayan State University, Kalinga State University, and Arellano University.

There were other teams that participated but they were not paired with JMC Law School, Dean Torreon bared.

He said it was a moot court competition on the “Assertion of Sovereignty and Cultivation of International Comity in Maritime Relations.”

A moot court simulates a Collegiate Court-setting (such as the Supreme Court) where oralists will argue like lawyers for their sides on particular issues previously framed by the organizers through the Compromis (set of imaginary facts and issues) that the organizers would send to the participating schools days before the event.

“The JMC Law Debate and Moot Society hopes to compete once again in the University of Cebu—Konrad Adenauer Stiftung International Environmental Moot Court Competition and eventually the Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court

Competition and Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition abroad,” Atty. Torreon said.

The Judges in the moot International Court of Justice were Atty. Ralph dela Cruz (best oralist, Stetson); Atty. Edsel Tupaz (FEU Public Intl Law professor and partner of Gorriceta, Africa, Cauton and Saavedra; with LLM in Harvard) and Atty. Fretti Gayondato (State Counsel of DOJ; with LLM in international Maritime Law ) Earlier, oralists Gretchen Cañedo and Lovella Tacder both competed in the 1st ever JMC Law Debate.

They were chosen because they were the �irst or pio-

neer products of the JMC Law Program which places high emphasis on debate and Moot Court training while IN law school. This is designed in order to prepare JMC Law Students to craft excellent pleadings for their clients in the future and most importantly so they can competently and superbly orally argue their cases in court when they become full-pledged lawyers, Dean Torreon said.

The JMC law school was established four years ago by Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, who recently announced the establishment of a school of medicine in the same college. AMA

From left to right: Mrs. Julie C. Tan, wife of the late Lucio "Bong" Tan, Jr.; Lucio C. Tan, III, president, Two Degrees, Inc.; Alexander Grenz, president and chief executive officer, Allianz PNB Life; and Gerry Tee, Chief Operating Officer of Two Degrees, Inc. and Absolut Distillers, Inc.

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EDGEDAVAO EVENT

LENOVO LAUNCHES HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN FOR YOGA, IDEAPAD, AND LEGION THE holiday season is finally upon us and the Philippines’ top PC vendor Lenovo (CY2019 Q2, Source: IDC), together with international backpack and accessory brand Herschel and prime sportswear retailer Planet Sports, will be joining the festivities by giving away freebies this Christmas time under two exciting promotional campaigns. Lenovo’s IdeaPad and YOGA #BRINGDIFFERENT campaign and Legion’s #SPORTYOURGAME promises to delight consumers with stylish freebies.

In a world where laptops are commonplace and seemingly cast in the same mold, Lenovo’s YOGA, IdeaPad, and Legion lines, loaded with unique and premium features, enable users to unleash their potential, at both work and play.

Purchases of select Lenovo IdeaPad, YOGA, and Legion devices made from November 15 until December 31, 2019 qualify for a chance to win up to PHP 30,000 worth of Herschel e-vouchers, Planet Sports gift cheques, and Lenovo accessories.

To celebrate the launch of the #BRINGDIFFERENT and #SPORTYOURGAME promos, Lenovo held a special fashion show event at The Plaza, Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. Models walked the runway with the latest Lenovo devices while also donning Herschel and Planet Sports gear.

“Christmas is all about spreading joy and to make it extra special this year, we’ve partnered with two well-known brands whose products share the same key characteristics that encapsulate the Lenovo brand incredible durability, style, and attention to detail. This promotion is also our way of thanking loyal customers for helping us achieve many milestones this year,” said Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager Michael Ngan.

For its #SPORTYOURGAME campaign, Lenovo Legion partnered with Planet Sports, a multi-brand

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Peace and smiles for Roger Casugay (La Union) as he walks back to shore.

LA UNION—the surfing capital of the north and home of longboarding in the Philippines, has its shores graced once again by the country’s top surfers. The Philippine Surfing Championship Tour (PSCT) kicked off the La Union Pro 2019 with a total of 141 surfers from 11 provinces all over the Philippines.

Sunny skies and glassy two-foot waves perfect for longboarding paved the way for back-to-back heats for the Men’s and Women’s Open Longboard divisions. Round One of the Men’s Open Longboard saw one of La Union’s established local surfer, Christopher Par, with the highest total heat score of 10.00 points.

LENOVO A1 concept store that imports and distributes globally recognized sports and lifestyle gear. Lenovo IdeaPad and YOGA, on the other hand, partnered with Canada-based Herschel Supply Co., a design-driven accessories brand that produces quality products available all over the world for its #BRINGDIFFERENT campaign. Herschel’s line comprises of backpacks, duffel bags, headwear, wallets, and even accessories such as laptop bags and sleeves which Lenovo users can use to protect their devices.

The amount of e-vouchers to

NON-STOP LONGBOARD ACTION AT THE PSCT LA UNION PRO Roger Casugay, who won the championship for the Men’s Open Longboard in the recently concluded Guiuan Odyssey Waves in Calicoan, had the highest total heat score of 12.85 points in the second round.

The afternoon was the women’s turn to show off their longboarding prowess. Siargao’s rising longboarder Jevy Mae “Ikit” Agudo posted the highest scores for the Women’s Open Longboard quarterfinals with the highest heat total of 10.70

be given away depends on the device’s model and processor.

Buyers of select IdeaPad 130 and 330 that are equipped with Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor, for example, can enjoy PHP 3,000 worth of Herschel e-vouchers. Buyers of selected YOGA devices containing Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7 processors may enjoy e-vouchers valued at PHP 10,000. Meanwhile, customers of Legion Y740 and Y540 devices, for instance, are entitled to PHP 5,000 worth of Planet Sports Gift Cheque, Recon Backpack, and Microsoft Office 2019.

points and a single-wave score of 6.25 points.

“I’m so thrilled!” a speechless Agudo responds after hearing about her scores. “The waves weren’t exactly ideal, but I did my best out there.” Competing in the longboard division since 2017, Agudo hopes to continue her momentum up until finals day.

“What I love about La Union is the quality and skills of the longboarders are so admirable.

I always learn something new

To receive the vouchers, customers must submit copies of their valid ID card and the receipt of purchase via email to promos.lenovophilippines@ gmail.com. Once documents are validated, the customer will receive an email confirmation and the Herschel e-voucher code after three to five business days, and this can be redeemed at https://lenovoexclusives.com. Meanwhile, Planet Sports Gift Cheques will be delivered to the address provided and can be redeemed at The Athlete’s Foot, Planet Sports, Intersport, and New Balance retail stores only. The

whenever I surf here.” Agudo says.

The clincher for the afternoon came in the fifth heat of Round Three of the Men’s Open Longboard. Twenty-one-yearold Rico Dumaguin posted the highest total heat and singlewave score of 13.00 points and 7.25 points respectively.

“I was thrilled when I heard those scores during my heat earlier.” says the jolly La Union local. “It feels so good to get a score like that here in my home

voucher is valid for regular Nike, New Balance, and Adidas items only.

The claiming of e-vouchers and gift cheques is only available up to 60 days after purchase. Only purchases from Lenovo authorized resellers qualify for the giveaway. Each customer can make a maximum of three purchases during the promotion.

For detailed information and the complete list of participating Lenovo devices and authorized resellers, visit the company’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/lenovophilippines/.

Mona the to

break,” Dumaguin adds.

“Even with the pressure of competing, it’s great to compete against my friends who are equally great surfers”. Professionally competing since the start of PSCT in 2017, Dumaguin’s goal is to make it to the Philip country’s top four. “I’m in the top 9, and it’s my goal to make it Union to the Philippine Team,” Duma- his he “Pok guin adds.

This year’s stop in La Union is onea special one as the competition larit stor pays tribute to the late Ronnie

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ENTERTAINMENT

BLACK SHEEP’S “BLACK TO SCHOOL” INSPIRES BUDDING STORYTELLERS IN UP BAGUIO

aliza’s Point in San Juan, La Union was today’s playground for op surfers of the Philippines for the La Union Pro 2019.

ppines’ top surfer, Jay-r Esquivel (La n), shows ease and control during eat.

ks” Esquivel. The country’s -legged surfer gained poputy through his inspiring life ry.

Mike Oida explaining the rules during the surfer’s briefing prior to the La Union Pro 2019 competition proper.

Born with one leg, Poks became was an icon to surfers and non-surfers alike by his passion, zeal and distinct surfing style. Poks placed La Union on the surfing map when he successfully competed here and abroad. He inspired a lot—most notably, his younger brother, Jay-r Esquivel, the country’s topperforming surfer.

“He taught me how to surf when I was younger. We always surfed together, and I’m sure if he were still here, we’d be travelling and competing together.

He’s my biggest inspiration, and I’m glad he inspired a lot more people during his lifetime.” Jay-r says.

Catch the rest of the action on my Instagram @ferinasantos!

ABS-CBN Films’ Black Sheep brought its “Black To School” scriptwriting workshop to the University of the Philippines – Baguio’s Palihan Series for a two-day learning experience where fledgling filmmakers and storytellers got to learn from the creative team behind the millennial-oriented films produced under the young film outfit.

About 150 participants from different high schools and colleges in Baguio and nearby provinces enjoyed a film screening on the first day, featuring Dwein Baltazar’s “Oda sa Wala,” the film that saw Pokwang portray her most serious role to date—an old maid whose life changed after meeting a mysterious corpse.

After the screening, the attendees took part in Dwein’s scriptwriting exercises, and were able to dive deeper into the filmmaking approaches of Black Sheep through a roundtable discussion with the creative team.

The panel included Dwein, Black Sheep’s creative director Kriz Gazmen, creative supervisor Jensen Garcia, creative supervisors and scriptwriters Katherine Labayen, Patrick Valencia and Kris Ann De la Peña, advertising and promotions head Shinji Manlangit, and producer Nailen Garalde.

Kriz emphasized the need for a broad mind when learning the art of filmmaking, saying that there is no

one beautiful way of making films.

“So there’s no one way, so you have to learn whatever you can from every insight you’re hearing here. Because even us, we have different proof of talks when it comes to filmmaking,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was all about the process of creating and producing films during the second day, as the Black Sheep team spoke about the conceptualization and pitching of stories.

After the talk, the participants were divided into more than fifty pitching groups, where they got to present their fresh visions to the creative team of Black Sheep. The deemed best pitches have a chance to be further developed by the film outfit.

Aside from the beneficial discus-

sions and exercises, the Black Sheep team also donated three of their scriptwriting books to the UP Baguio library to aid students in honing their craft and developing their passion for filmmaking. The group also signed copies of the book versions of its movies “Alone/Together,” “Isa Pa With Feelings,” and “Exes Baggage.”

One of the film outfits under ABSCBN Film Productions, Black Sheep focuses on creating alternative content for the new breed of Filipino audiences through its more grounded and personal narratives. The scriptwriting workshop in UP Baguio was its first Black to School event offering inspiring talks and creative workshops for students who are interested to venture into filmmaking.

KAKAI BAUTISTA SAYS FAREWELL TO HEARTBREAK WITH WITTY NEW BOOK “LA NA BYE” SINGER-ACTRESS Kakai Bautista turns her misfortunes on love into an amusing collection of poetry, anecdotes, and quotes in her first book “La Na Bye,” published under ABS-CBN Books.

Formally launched at the Kapamilya Books Blowout weekend fair held at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, “La Na Bye” is a timely nod to the current trend of individuals communicating their emotional pain online through ingenious clap backs and clever but hard-hitting responses to heartbreaks more commonly known as “hugot.”

Befittingly, the interesting new read bares the “Dental Diva’s” passionate yet quirky insights on romance (and lack thereof) through extensive, relat-

able verses, and “hugot” one-liners. It is divided into three parts, consisting of her poems for those too wishful in love, her compositions on why people love the ones who don’t deserve it, and her verses for the “boys who didn’t love me before.”

The new author also touches upon subjects that some people may unfortunately be well-acquainted with, such as “ghosting,” break-ups, and unrequited love.

Kakai is now one of the diverse authors under ABSCBN Books, the publishing arm of the country’s leading media and entertainment company, ABS-CBN, which continues to bring the Kapamilya experience in print with its extensive fiction, nonfiction, movie-

based, self-help, and motivational reads.

Laugh your way past a heartbreak with Kakai’s

“La Na Bye” book, available online and in leading bookstores and newsstands for only P225.

NOT DONE YET EDGEDAVAO

ogy (MCT) Navigators at International School of 6:00 pm.

Aeronautics and TechnolAt 7:00pm, the un- ogy (AISAT) (1-1), Atebeaten University of Min- neo de Davao University danao (UM) Wildcats Knights (1-2), Mannywill Pacquiao(Addu) says evenBlue at 40, he is not finished yet. stake its clean slate against BCD (0-1), UM Penaplata DMMA College of South- (0-1), and Rizal Memoern Philippines (DMMAC- rial Colleges (RMC) SP) Mariners to wrap up Bulldogs (0-2).

Saturday's quadruple header sponsored by The

14 12

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(CSL) Escandor Cup resumes at the Davao City Recreation Center. Escandor Cup/CSL photo VOL.11 VOL.12 ISSUE 241 ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, 6VOL.12 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 24-25, 17-18, ISSUE 51 •FEBRUARY TUESDAY, 21,2019 2019 VOL.12 ISSUE 45 • SUNDAYMONDAY, MAYMAY 12 -13,

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UP AND LAUNDRY FURNITURE A2A1 ABOUTa silly method but for EJ and

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SUBSTANDARD... FROM1

“Pagpalit pa lang ginatest na ang bakal if it is meeting a speci�ied strength. This is a lookout on the construction phase and the contractor.

Ang strength sa material after the construction can be tested and DPWH is expected to be doing that especially for government projects like roads and buildings. Pag naay defect after an earthquake with a magnitude lower than 7 ibig sabihin something is wrong somewhere,” Cortez said.

Aside from property owners, contractors must also be on the look out as

well. He said the challenge right now is in the implementation stage of the building design because usually the building design is computed and built to withstand certain standards.

Cortez added that there are challenges in the implementation phase such as getting the right construction materials.

“The standards for buildings in the city is it can set a certain intensity and usually it's 7. The usual process is you always compute for the stresses.

It should be computed in such a way it can with-

stand magnitude. After the construction certain PSIs will determine the stability of the building before occupancy is provided,” he said.

According to Cortez, it is the building of�ice that has the last say on occupancy because they will only provide the occupancy permit if the approved design or plan followed the standards.

On the part of the city government, Cortez said they are requiring certi�ication from the structural engineer that the design is strong enough to withstand certain standards.

part of the outreach.

Arrangements with the mission venue team were �inalized, focusing on sharing of resources on supplies, medicines, security, food and accommodations of volunteers, most notable of which is the able hosting of the Barangay Cabuaya led by Punong Barangay Renato Lemente.

Final screening was done at the mission venue followed by the actual performance of procedures

and other services /programs.

A total of 138 patients were served thru the medical mission with services ranging from cyst excisions, screening for major and medium surgeries, screening for eye surgery, prenatal, dental, and �louridation.

Dr. Catbagan said that the Outreach Activity is a clear example of enhancing access of the indigenous people in the geographically isolated and disad-

vantaged areas to quality health services.

“Holding of such outreach activities for the underserved populations annually through the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) would help �ill the gaps in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The outreach is the best team building activity for the City Team and other stakeholders with high impact on the communities,” said Catbagan. (CIO MATI)

farmers in the region and initiate a concerted effort to promote the product.

Aside from this, the MinDa chief also proposed that BIMP-EAGA members create a “virtual common production strategy and common market” aimed at complementing each other’s production potentials and identify what the region needs, which the member-countries can supply.

“There are, however, issues which have to be resolved, among which are the absence of logistical services and the restrictive policies of some member countries on the entry of

agricultural products from their neighbors,” Piñol said.

He also urged the establishment of a “Digital Market Linkage” between producers and buyers that would allow prospective buyers to determine where they could source the products they need while the producers, farmers and �isherfolk, would know where their goods are needed and at what price.

“This program was implemented by the Department of Agriculture when I was still the secretary and I believe it could be useful in connecting the buyers and

sellers in the BIMP-EAGA Region,” he said.

He also added that during the meeting, he emphasized the need for BIMP-EAGA member-countries not to restrict trade among the people in the region.

“Our people have been trading among themselves for centuries long before our governments were established. Why should governments impose restrictions on traditional trading which has existed for centuries, long before there were customs duties and sanitary and photo-sanitary requirements?” he pointed out. (PNA)

ent directions.

“I commend our troops for their vigilance and presence of mind during these attacks. Keep up the good works and let us not

give the enemy any chance to harm our fellow soldiers,” Carreon said.

Carreon vowed to “eradicate” terror groups in 6ID’s area of jurisdic-

tion.

“We will hunt them and will not allow them the space to regroup and gain strength,” he said.

(PNA)

"If we really want to put alternatives to our OFWs who want work, this is it, we must industrialize," he said.

The summit aims to solicit views and recommendations from the industry's movers on how the government should move forward towards full industri-

alization and its economic boom.

Hundreds of participants are expected to arrive Tuesday for the panel discussion component of the summit.

On Monday, the media covering the four-day affair were toured at the vast PHIVIDEC Industrial Es-

tate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and were allowed to take a closer look at the operations of some of its tenants such as popular bread maker Gardenia and coal-�ired power plant STEAG State Power Inc. which supplies Mindanao Grid and FDC Misamis Power. (PNA)

er business governance."

Tan stated he is con�ident his �irst project will gain support, especially within the Group. "Thank you for being the �irst among the companies within the LT Group to support the Green Canopy Project. I am con�ident that we are in good com-

pany knowing that Allianz is not only a leading global insurer, but a worldwide leader in sustainability,” he said.

Allianz has been hailed as the Most Sustainable Insurer by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for three years running, because of its various envi-

ronmental initiatives in different countries.

Aside from donating to the Green Canopy project, Allianz had made this green initiative of Mr. Tan the bene�iciary of its own environmental advocacies and employee engagement projects in the country.

MATI... FROM2

PIÑOL... FROM2

ALERT... FROM3

ASSERTIVE... FROM3

ALLIANZ... FROM8

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of

Accounting Clerks Qualifications: • BS Accountancy / Accounting Technology Graduate or any business related courses • Male/Female • Can work with minimum supervision • With or without experience

Account Executives Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate or any related courses • Male/Female • With pleasing personality • With or without experience and willing to be trained

Social Media Lead Qualifications: • Candidate must be creative and enjoys social media • Experience in creating social media post for news, business and organization • Good command of English • Experience in graphic design is a plus Send your application letter and resume to: Ella P. Tingzon HR/Admin Supervisor Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City or email at edgedavao@gmail.com or ella_tingzon@yahoo.com

SOLIDARITY... FROM3 waged a parallel struggle for democracy,” Duterte said during the �irst day of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit here that marks the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations.

As both countries commemorate 70 years of meaningful bilateral relations this year, Duterte assured that the Philippines will continue to �ind common cause and purpose with the Republic of Korea towards enhancing our bilateral engagement and promoting peace and stability in your region.

Meanwhile, South Korean President said Duterte’s visit comes at a very meaningful time as the two countries celebrate their 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

“The Philippines was the �irst among ASEAN countries to establish diplomatic relations with Korea and also the �irst to dispatch troops to �ight on our side during the Korean War,” Jae-in said.

The Philippines sent more than 7,000 soldiers to help defend South Korea from North Korean invasion from 1950 to 1953.

“I’d like to express my profound gratitude to the people of the Phil-

ippines for their lasting friendship over the past 70 years and to you Mr. President (Duterte) for your great affection for Korea,” he said.

He added that the time is right for both countries to think about elevating its relations to a strategic partnership that will pave the way to engage in greater cooperation that will lead to common prosperity.

Many cultural exchange events held in Korea, including concerts, �ilm festivals, and exhibitions brought the Korean people closer to the Philippines after the two countries designated 2019 as the year of mutual exchanges during Duterte’s visit in May last year, he added.

“The Korean people love the Philippines. Koreans are the number one visitors to the Philippines,” he said.

Department of Tourism’s January-September 2019 report showed that Korea remains the biggest source of visitors for the Philippines, reaching 1,450,792 arrivals -- 20.97 percent growth compared to the same period last year.

Korean tourists make up 23.55 percent of the total tourist arrivals.

Jae-in added that bilateral trade volume surpassed the 15 billion US dollar mark for the �irst time last year not to

mention the numerous Korean companies are doing business in the Philippines, including in the �ields of energy, electricity, electronics, textiles, shipbuilding.

He lauded Duterte’s leadership for making the Philippines as the future of ASEAN as it continues to achieve an impressive growth rate of 6 percent each year.

“I hope to strengthen my friendship with you and expand our bilateral cooperation to contribute further to the development of ASEAN,” he said.

Signed agreements Duterte and Moon also witnessed the signing of three agreements that include the Social Security Agreement; Implementation Program of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tourism Cooperation; and Joint Statement by the ROK and Philippines on the Early Achievement Package of the Negotiations of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Likewise, the MOU on Cooperation in Fisheries and MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Education were signed on the sidelines of the ceremony.

Before their bilateral meeting, Duterte met with of�icials from various South Korean companies. (PNA)

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MALAYSIAN... FROM4 Siti Azlina Mohd Ali Hana�iah, Matrade Manila trade commissioner, said the goal of the trade mission was to provide Malaysian investors the avenue to look into the business opportunities in Mindanao.

Azlina said the forum also became the venue for Malaysian companies to introduce their innovative products that would help local companies. “We would like to bring more innovate products from Malaysia,” she said, adding that the Malaysian business sector has been shifting itself to using new innovative solutions that would help local companies improve their productivity.

Yusof said local companies can tap the innovative solutions of Malaysian companies, six of those attending the event are in the information and communications technology sector, to improve their productivity.

In the case of the city, Malaysian ICT companies are looking at how to collaborate with the business process outsourcing industry

in enhancing their operations even as they both noted that the local BPO sector is vibrant.

Azlina said the Malaysian ICT companies have started discussions with the local BPO industry on how they can complement each other.

Yusof added that the role of Matrade is to facilitate the exploration of business opportunities in other countries, in this case Davao and the rest of Mindanao, for them to get oriented of the investment climate and opportunities.

Some Malaysian investors, he said, are also looking at sourcing their raw materials in the city that they can add value to and sell these products in the world market.

Some companies, he added, may even opt to put up their processing plants if they think sustaining their operations locally will be achievable as they are looking at incentives that the local government units can provide them in case they decide to locate in any area in Mindanao.

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HCDC regains old form

P

laying sluggish in the early goings of the tournament, defending champion Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders regained their winning form after posting back-to-back conquests in the ongoing Collegiate Sponsors League (CSL) Escandor Cup. Parading a rookie-laden roster, the Crusaders are an entirely new team with only its record on paper giving them a headstart.

But last Friday, November 22, HCDC survived Davao Merchant Marine Academy College of Southern Philippines (DMMA) Mariners 68-64 at the Davao City Recreation Center for its fourth win in seven starts to jump to third spot in bracket A. Their debut game-tormentor University of Mindanao (UM) Wildcats also holds a 4-3 standing to rank second, trailing behind group leader St. John Paul II College of Davao (SJPIICD) Saints who are 5-1.

The Crusaders’ conquest over the Mariners came after devastating the Cor Jesu College (CJC) of

Digos City Red Lions 91-75, last November 17.

HCDC, however, is not yet assured of a spot in the quarter�inals with still one game left in their eliminations assignment.

The Crusaders made adjustments in their play patterns and are now going most of the time to their big man Paul Turco and shifted to a run-and-gun offense.

For the past two games, it has been successful.

HCDC's starters VJ Marquez and Miguel de Loyola has also been consistent on both ends.

The do-or-die quarter�inals is set on November 30.

This Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas 11 sanctioned-league--presented

by Presidential Adviser on Sports and SBP Davao regional director Glenn Y. Escandor and bankrolled by the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Max's Fried Chicken, Davies Paints, Mandarin SPC-Branch, and PTT Lubricants--serves as the quali�ier for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Mindanao Finals that will be hosted in Davao City next year.

11

Jing Tan pitches from the fringe during the recent Davao Central High School Batch 73 Golf Tournament at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club over the weekend. Boy Lim

Roderick Lo wins DCHS 73 Golf Tournament

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO oderick Lo bagged the overall gross championship trophy with gross 39 points over the Modi�ied Stableford scoring system to lead the winners in the Davao Central High School Batch 73 Golf Tournament held over the weekend at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

R

Lo was joined in the winners’ circle by Bong Lu who took home the overall net title with net 48 points.

Multi-titled Vince Gu-

mapac came through with another �iery performance to take the Class A gross title with a 37 while Ninot Galicia bagged the Class A

net trophy after a 43.

In Class B action, Ivan Tanopo won the overall gross title with a 32 and Alro Paglinawan copped the Class B net crown on a 44 via countback over Yoo Jae Woon. Paul Ancla topped Class C gross with a 27 and Jam Abella’s 47 gave him the Class C net title.

Veteran Ting Castillo, meanwhile, lorded it over in the Seniors division for the gross title on a 32 while Lando Cachuela took the Seniors net plum with a

44. In the Ladies division, Maricel Kim continued her dominating ways with a gross crown win on a 29.

Charilyn Kayama shared honors with the net crown on a 45.

Michael Ryan Lim scored a hole-in-one at hole no. 17 from the 176yard white tee using a 21-degree Titleist Rescue club and a Titleist 6 PROV1x ball. He won a Yamaha golf cart for his feat.

The ace was witnessed by �lightmates Ninot Galicia, Anci Galicia and Shoti Tan.

the Cambodian side as he scored the equalizer for the U22 Azkals in the second minute of the second half stoppage time to cancel out Keo Sokpheng's 41st minute goal and force the splitting of the points.

The development forced a four-way tie between the two teams, Malaysia, and Myanmar for the top spot in Group A

with one point each.

Malaysia and Myanmar battled to a 1-1 draw earlier Monday.

Timor Leste, the �ifth team in the group, had no opponent on the opening night and will only debut on Wednesday night against Cambodia.

Meanwhile, in the lone Group B match at the Biñan Football Stadi-

um here, Vietnam mauled Brunei, 6-0, behind a fourgoal showing from Ha Duc Chinh and strikes from Trieu Viet Hung and Nguyen Trung Hong.

Group B action continues on Tuesday night with Thailand taking on Indonesia and Laos battling Singapore back at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

(PNA)

Azkals salvage draw with Cambodia 1-1

RELIABLE CENTER. Paul Turco stops a DMMA player as the Holy Cross of Davao City Crusaders sailed away with a 68-64 win last Friday, November 22. CSL Escandor Cup photo

T

he Philippine men's under-22 football team escaped with a 1-1 draw against Cambodia in Day 1 of the Southeast Asian Games men's football tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Monday night.

Dennis Chung, who came in as a late substitute for Dylan De Bruycker, broke the heart of

MOSES BILLACURA CLEAN SLATE

HOLD YOUR PUNCHES AFTER SEA GAMES HOSTING I try to disregard the ongoing “kaldero” issue of the Southeast Asian Games which the Philippines is hosting starting this month.

However, when a former President of the Republic joins the fray, di na makaya ni.

“We could have built a cheaper SEA Games cauldron”, says former president Noynoy Aquino in published reports.

Sure we can. Ana baya ta mga Pilipino, kung asa maka barato, didto ta.

However, it begs the question of quality and pride of the Filipino as a nation.

Sure we can build a cheaper cauldron.

We can just hire anybody to design it and construct it.

Sure we can. Probably save around 20 million pesos or 30. So, P20M na lang ang gastos.

What makes me irritated is the fact that you guys like to criticize this administration, managed by the �irst Philippine president from Mindanao, at every

opportunity.

If I am a former president of this republic, I will never make such statement. I will hold my punches after the hosting of the SEA Games.

Leaders are supposed to unify people in sports and not to be a source or a cause for division.

Hapit na ang SEA Games, mo criticize pa gyud.

What will our ASEAN neighbours say about us as SEA Games host?

Grabeha ani nila oh, manaway

gihapon, hapit na ang SEA Games.

Mao nay storya ron former president Noynoy. Gone are the days of statesmanship. Wa na gyud.

This is the time to work together to ensure the success of the SEA Games.

This is the time to build friendship.

This is the time to show what Filipinos can do in sports.

Let the SEA Games go smoothly guys.

Stop those criticisms.

After the SEA Games hosting,

resume your attacks if you want.

Nobody can stop you from making statements against Mayor Digong, leaders of the sports community, against Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, against Senate sports committee chairman Senator Bong Go, against POC head Bambol Tolentino, against PSC chairman Butch Ramirez and the hard-working staff of the organizing committee.

Pwede? Stop sa. Para “disente” sad ta tan awon sa atong mga ASEAN neighbors.

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